Wednesday, July 28, 2010

EAT - SLEEP - SEW

While you may be spending some time with a book or a movie that is similarly named, you also might want to spend some time with this. You might like the other side better. On some days... I know I would. Kidding, Bill. (Who I know reads this blog)This arrived on my porch yesterday. It's a new lunch box available from Moda Home. Or is it?I have an older model that you might have seen on this blog last year. I made a little adaptation and it is my traveling sewing kit. What you need is a few things I know you have around the house..... a small piece of fabric, cardboard, scraps of quilt batting, and tape. What you might not have is this.Some extra strong double-sided tape. It's pretty simple (believe me, it has to be. I did this all by myself)What you see here is a piece of cardboard approximately 10 1/2" x 6" on top of 3 layers of wool batting. If you have wool, use it here. As a matter of fact, save all of your wool batting scraps as it is wonderful to use to stuff pillows, pincushions, and such. On the bottom is a scrap of lovely Moda fabric about 2" larger all the way around. The batting is a bit larger than the cardboard.Now, just pull the fabric taut and tape on the back. I used duct tape. Here it is from the back. Not very pretty at this point. Next, I put on 4 strips of the double sided tape.Once the red paper is peeled off the double-sided tape, just put that baby up on the lid of your lunch box. Fill with all your sewing tools and you are good to go. Now, I'm getting to the really good part. In honor of this blog's 300th post. (Yes, we have rambled on here about rugs, quilts, movie reviews, puppies, and lame pictures of groceries for 300 posts.) We would like to reward you for your patience. Make a comment to this post and you could be the winner of this sewing kit. Your kit will be filled with some of those goodies shown. It will also be filled with other goodies you don't see. We'll pick three winners. One gets the goody stuffed sewing kit and the two others - well, just goodies. Enter by midnight, Sunday August 1st. Good luck.

In the meantime, I am planning more posts on hand quilting tools and techniques. Thanks for all the great questions.

I came to ask you a question, so I'll ask it as my entry to win this wonderful prize!!!!! :)

WHY does a quilt get heavier and heavier, the more you quilt it? I've posed this question and received a deluge of answers, but mostly they were from a misunderstanding of what I meant. (I think sometimes I speak a different language, but that's another story...)

While, I've not put all materials I'd use in a quilt on a scale before quilting, it seems to me that you are only adding thread as you go. Yet, the quilt keeps getting heavier and heavier. Not that I mind, mind you.

Or, is this just an illusion? Perhaps it's from having the quilt on your lap for SOOOOOO long that it just feels like it's getting heavier. Hope you know what I'm asking. I shall pose this to my own audience soon. I have to get to the bottom of this.... lol

Hmmmm. I know what you mean about the weight of the quilt. Could it be that the added weight of the thread compounded with the fact that the quilt now takes up less space (batting is now compressed where it is stitched). Any physicists out there? I know at my house there is also the added weight of the cat and dog hair.

Thanks for the tutorial. When I saw your first post about your sewing kit I felt inspired to make one, but so far haven't. The new Moda lunch box makes an adorable sewing kit too (although I did see a very cute R2D2 lunch box that would work too). Of course, it would be much more fun to win your kit, especially with all the goodies. Congratulations on your 300th post!

I love that box! Outside and inside!!! I saw that you made one last year and had always wanted to make one for myself... uh, but didn't! Congratulations on your 300th post! I'd love to enter the giveaway!

I love your blog and especially love this sewing kit idea! If I don't win the lunch box, I might just have to find one of them myself in my junking trips to convert for myself! What a great idea! I hope I do win, though :)

I love the lunch box sewing kit and of course the goodies that go with it. My husband had a Flipper lunch box that he loved as a kid. My mother-in-law found one in an antique shop recently and bought it for him. I use it as my recipe box!

I absolutely love the sewing kit...you are just too clever. I'd love to be one of the lucky three. How jealous the girls would be at our guild's upcoming retreat if I were to walk in with that...hehehe.

Oh, Girlies,What a wonderful thing--I love lunch boxes, and this one is a duesy! What a wonderful give-a-way. You guys are so thoughtful! I love your blog, and since I quilt and hook, it's a 300th winner! I will pray to heavens to win this goody box. Both of you rule! (Thanks too for the much appreciated quilt tutorial!) Jeanne L

Your blog is the best! Love your sense of humor, and I learn so much too! Thanks for the show and tell on hooping a quilt for hand quilting. What do you use to mark your quilt? Great lunchbox too. Please count me in on the giveaway, and congratulations on your 300th post! Woo hoo!

would love a lunch box sewing tin ! This is so clever to have a pin cushion on the lid as I would use it for my appliqué projects that I take to go. Great tip!thanks for another wonderful giveawayKathie

would love a lunch box sewing tin ! This is so clever to have a pin cushion on the lid as I would use it for my appliqué projects that I take to go. Great tip!thanks for another wonderful giveawayKathie

Congratulations on 300 posts! A Moda lunch box??!! What will they think of next? What will I *need* from Moda next??? Great idea for a sewing kit though. I wonder if my mom still has my wonder woman lunch box...

Love that idea with the lunchbox. I've never seen that tape before, but I will be looking for it! Please include me in the giveaway. If I win, I'll have to hit the road with my lunchbox and give it a try!!

Wow, that looks great since I love your fabrics wouls love to win one off the three prices. first off august was 28 years ago a lucky day when our son was born so me be I'll have some luck again.Marjan

Thanks for the great idea, and I'll bet that it would work for other box-type containers...like those old "train cases" that were used as traveling cosmetic cases. My mom always called them train cases but I don't know if that is the right terminology. Anyway, I have a couple of vintage ones and that would make a lovely fix for them.

To Sandra, Do you mean while you are actually quilting it? Because I understand what you mean then. Arm fatigue would be my answer to why the quilt gets heavier. Plus I agree with Laurie I always have a cat sneak onto my lap and hide in the folds of the quilt while I am working.

What a clever sewing kit. Much nicer than the kids old plastic pencil box that I use now. Congratulations on 300th post!

That is such a great idea for a pincushion! And thank you for posting about hand quilting - seems like everyone is quilting by machine now . . . I bought a "quilting hoop" last year to start my first hand quilted flannel quilt, and quickly became so frustrated that the quilt is still unfinished - wrong hoop!! No slack!! Now I know why - I was fighting with my tools :) Thanks Laurie, I'm going to have another go at it!

Holy wow! I'd love to win this! I've recently become addicted to paper-piecing hexagons, and have been thinking I need something other than a ratty old tote-bag from Target to carry them around in (they keep getting their corners bent!). This would be the perfect solution.

I hope I win it, cuz if I don't, I'm going to have to suck it up and make one! Thanks for being so generous, ladies!

Congratulations on the 300th post. We've enjoyed them and keep coming back for more! Love the giveaway and everything about it. I've been wanting to take a stab at hand quilting so I enjoyed your last post as well. Thanks for all your inspiration!

Thank you for the great post about hand quilting. I got out my hoop and tried your tips and it sure makes it easier. Now to continue to practice! Will you be at the Ann Arbor Quilt Show this weekend? Thanks for all your ramblings - I loved every one!!

I've really enjoyed your blog and your fabric! I've collected so much of your fabric. I LOVE how it goes together from collection to collection. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! Cheery wave from Bev

What a fantastic idea! I am just entering the wonderful world of quilting, sewing and such and I have been reading your blog for a little while now, and I just love it! Thank you so much for the entry into the giveaway!

Congratulations on 300 posts! You certainly have spoiled us with fun stories, super recipes, great quilting (and other) projects, fun links and glimpes into your lives and studios. Looking forward to the next 300! I'd just love to have the "official" M&S sewing essentials box!

The cutest two parts of this blog entry...........The lovely use of duct tape, number one."Fill with all your tools"........number two. HAHAHA!Oh Laurie, for a peek in your "tools closet".What a darling post!Love, from a "hooker"........

I love the lunch box idea --- and now there are so many for "back to school" --- of course, I would love to win this one! ...and, what are we going to do about the Tigers?! Gee, this has been a rough week!

Good morning, I've been widowed 3 weeks now & just can't get myself quilting again. Maybe some new, fresh stuff would help. I'd sure love to have the tin lunchbox like I had in school. Thanks, Have a great weekend. Stella

I absolutely LOVE that sewing kit. I keep getting more sewing machines but my husband is still around though!! He must love me becasue it can't be for my cooking - I'd rather sew than cook anyday! Would love to win this! Sylvia aka Pecasatwo

I love the lunch box idea! I have always enjoyed reading your blog. Thank you so much for all of the detailed information about your quilting hoop and hand quilting. I have always wondered about your technique and now I know. Thanks again!!

I love gadgets and quilting tools and all my friends know this. When we go to a quilt show that is what I look for...any new gadget, even if it doesn't work when I get home. What a great idea for inside your sewing'lunch box'. Will look forward to more of your idea. Thanks for the tip of using the extra strong tape. Nancy in PA

what a lovely idea. I use a small Russell Stover chocolate tin for a sewing kit. I put a small magnet in the lid to hold needles. it is just large enough for my stork scissors. It would fit in this lunch box for extra storage.... your ideas inspire all.